College Application Essays

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?
An old proverb says, “A little goes a long way.” Working with Campo de Esperanza, a Mexican NGO, gave this stale-overused phrase (a new meaning).
I could not imagine that a small propane stove could have an effect on health, education, and the environment. For...

Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school

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1. STANFORD STUDENTS POSSESS AN INTELLECTUAL VITALITY. REFLECT ON AN IDEA OR EXPERIENCE THAT HAS BEEN IMPORTANT TO YOUR INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT.
Debate has introduced a drive to learn about anything and everything. I still remember our first resolution: It is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of many. (These resolutions were passed by the national league every two months, in which debaters would have to prepare and compete on both affirmative and negative.) It was the...

Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school

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2. VIRTUALLY ALL OF STANFORD’S UNDERGRADUATES LIVE ON CAMPUS. WRITE A NOTE TO YOUR FUTURE ROOMMATE THAT REVEALS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU OR THAT WILL HELP YOUR ROOMMATE – AND US – KNOW YOU BETTER.
Dear future roommate,
I'm a musician, a partaker in a language that invokes emotion no word can imitate. The intensity in Dvorak's 4th movement of the New World Symphony, the crying voice of Itzhak Perlman's violin in John William's theme to Schinder's List, the American portrait in Gershwin's...

Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school

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3. WHAT MATTERS TO YOU, AND WHY?
I am a type-B person. While embracing the strengths of my character (developing huge passions, patience, a relaxed nature), I've set out to reconcile my reserved nature that people have misconstrued to be apathy by becoming concertmaster and captain of swimming and debate. Being a leader has taught me skills including the mentor-aspect of teaching, responsibility of the team, and mediating conflicts. I finally understand a teacher's joy in a student's (or in my...

Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay

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Northwestern Statement (required)
What are the unique qualities of Northwestern—and of the specific undergraduate school to which you are applying—that make you want to attend the University? In what ways do you hope to take advantage of the qualities you have identified?
My interest in philosophy started with debate. I still remember our first resolution: It is morally
permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of many. (These resolutions were passed by the national league...

Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay

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Question 1: How does the University of Chicago, as you know it now, satisfy your desire for a particular kind of learning, community, and future? Please address with some specificity your own wishes and how they relate to U Chicago.
Located in the 3rd largest U.S. metropolis, University of Chicago is a perfectly located campus for college students to grab opportunities in large cities. Students can search for educationally-oriented experiences like the Museum of Science and Industry, or more fun...

Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school

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Essay Option 3: Spanish poet Antonio Machado wrote, 'Between living and dreaming there is a third thing.
Guess it.' Give us your guess.
There was a time when crossing the ocean was a tall tale, flying a mere fantasy, walking on the moon a wild dream. What made them come true was not only genius, but genius complemented with a passion, a drive to achieve. Living without dreaming results in a purposeless life of monotony. Dreaming without living is nothing...

Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay

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1. Johns Hopkins offers 50 majors across the schools of Arts & Sciences and Engineering. On this application, we ask you to identify one or two that you might like to pursue here. Why did you choose the way you did? If you are undecided, why didn’t you choose? (If any past courses or academic experiences influenced your decision, you may include them in your essay.)
My interest in philosophy started with debate. Before I continue, I just want to capture the...

Supplemental Essay: Unique question posed by school

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2. Tell us something about yourself or your interests that we wouldn’t learn by looking at the rest of your application materials. (While you should still pay attention to sentence structure and grammar, your response is meant as a way for us to get to know you, rather than a formal essay.)
I’m a musician, a partaker in a language that invokes emotion no word can imitate. The intensity in Dvorak’s 4th movement of the New World Symphony,...

Supplemental Essay: “Why us” school essay

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Having grown up in B, a small city, and P P, a suburb, I want to attend college located in the heart of one of the most culturally alive cities in America. Without the hustle of an overflowing campus, and the pandemonium of a big city life, Carnegie Mellon offers the perfect combination of a comfortable campus feel while being located close to downtown Pittsburgh. The immense diversity within the Pennsylvanian Soho from the Andy Warhol museum, the Cabaret at...

Additional Essay Details:

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My interest in philosophy started with debate. Before I continue, I just want to capture the exhilaration of learning to debate. Imagine the attractiveness of formulized argumentation to a 14-year old kid. Not only is there an appeal towards a rebellious side, in which teens start questioning everything, but there also is a drive to argue. While debate is a scholastic activity, the competition nature is more akin to that of sports. Given five resolutions a year times the four...

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College Admissions Advice

Recommended summer activities during high school and college

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If you have the opportunity, I would recommend taking a summer class in college, preferably one away from home. This will help ease your introduction to college life. One, you get a taste...